Brady's appointment beefs up England's World Cup bid team

Former Birmingham City managing director Karren Brady has been appointed to the England 2018 World Cup bid board as a non-executive director.

She will be joined by former Chelsea and Celtic defender Paul Elliott, who will share his non-executive role by chairing an Inclusivity Advisory group.

The pair succeed Baroness Amos, who is due to step down from the role.

"We are delighted to welcome two outstanding additions to our team," said bid chairman Lord Triesman.

"Karren's record in both football and in business, speaks for itself and the board shares my belief that she will make a tremendous contribution to the England 2018 World Cup Bid.

"Paul's experience as a professional footballer as well as a campaigner for grassroots football, means he is as highly regarded in the corridors of Uefa and Fifa as he is on playing fields around the country."

England is bidding to host either the 2018 or 2022 World Cup.

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The Inclusivity Advisory group is a panel established to promote inclusivity from all sections of society and across all England's communities.

And Elliott, who has worked as a special advisor for the Commission for Racial Equality and currently holds the same position with the Equality and Human Rights Commission, said: "England's multi-cultural society means there will be a "home" welcome for every competing nation and the work we do now to integrate these communities into the process will be invaluable.

"England's World Cup bid to Fifa will promote inclusivity and embrace all areas of the global football family, irrespective of race, gender or sexual orientation."

Brady, who stepped down from Birmingham following Carson Yeung's recent takeover of the club, added: "Having spent so many years working in football I am very aware how much a World Cup in England would mean to the public.

"I feel my background in football, business and the media gives me a unique position which will enable me to create a strong link between business and football."

Amos, meanwhile, who departs to take up her new role as high commissioner to Australia this month, said: "Working on the England 2018 World Cup Bid has been a tremendous experience.

"A World Cup in England would be a spectacular event which would be good for football both here in England and around the world. I wish the team well."

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